Page 42 - OGA 2017

Outstanding Governorship Award 2017

IGNITING THE SPARK

Over the past years, the province saw how their neighboring provinces, cities, and
municipalities developed. They witnessed how these localities charted their way to
development through policy measures, capacity building, infrastructure improvement, and
investment promotion. While all these were happening, Samar lagged several steps behind.
This became a wake-up call of the Provincial Government and for Governor Tan. They
realized that if they dreamt of a better tomorrow for each and every Samarnon, then, Samar
cannot, and should not, remain at the bottom forever. The province needed to come out of
the shadows. This motivated the Provincial Government, under the helm of Governor Sharee
Ann Tan to find creative solutions to slowly but surely address the issues they faced.

The first agenda: Build a positive image of Samar

With no less than the Governor leading the team, together with Department of Tourism, they conducted site visits, consulted communities,
brainstormed, conceptualized and ultimately launched the Spark Samar campaign in 2015.
The Spark Samar campaign projects the province of Samar exuding its true beauty that has been disguised by its challenged condition all through
these years. By presenting the province’s turnaround story, the Spark Samar envisioned to position Samar as the next exciting tourism and investment
destination of the country.
Ensure people participation and consultation is among the firm policies of the Governor and the Provincial Government. That is why, as we set of our
path towards tourism development, we mapped out our stakeholders whom we would work hand-in-hand with in realizing the Samar dream.
Spark Samar anchored in people’s organizations, directly benefiting the community for the different projects under this campaign.

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